FARMINGTON — Police on Sunday seized 13 farm animals, along with dogs, at a home on Chestnut Hill Road.

The animals were all suffering from severe malnutrition and neglect.

Police Chief Kevin Willey said he anticipates charges of animal cruelty will be brought against the owner or owners responsible for the care of those animals, though police have yet to identify individuals at this time.

The New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NHSPCA) assisted the Farmington Police Department in the removal of the neglected animals from the premises of 576 Chestnut Hill Road on Sunday.

Officials said they found a stable, described as an inadequate shelter, housing five horses, one miniature horse, one pony, two goats, two dogs and two chickens, all malnourished and in varying degrees of health.

The animals were transported to the NHSPCA's animal shelter in Stratham where they received extensive medical examinations throughout the week.

Executive Director Lisa Dennison described the case as one of "the worst" she has ever seen and noted two of the horses — Dell, a white horse in her mid-20s, with Tonka, her four-year-old colt — were taken into protective custody from the same owners back in January 2010. She did not reveal the owners' identities so as not to interfere with an ongoing police investigation.

"Every time we have animals in protective custody ¿ you form a bond with every animal you've handled," Dennison recalled. "¿When we had to release (Dell and Tonka) back again, it was very upsetting,"

Dennison explained it will take at least six months to rehabilitate the animals as experts slowly work to bring them back to acceptable weights and healthy conditions.

Inside a barn outside the NHSPCA shelter, a Chestnut horse named Dolly, 32, whinnied loudly. Veterinarians and assistants examining her said she was distressed as she tried to communicate with her fellow four-legged companions, kept in individual pens nearby.

The horses, identified as three mares, one gelding and one stallion, are visibly emaciated, with hip, ribs and spine bones protruding under their dull coats. One of the mares may be lame on at least two legs. A brown and white Pinto pony, named Rosey, along with a miniature horse, Chip, and a Rottweiler and German shepherd dog, reportedly all show signs of malnutrition.

NHSPCA Director of Development and Marketing Sheila Ryan said the Rottweiler appeared to suffer muscle wasting and had an eye infection. Dennison added the two found chickens were sharing tiny pens with little or no room to move or lie down.

NHSPCA Farm Animal Coordinator Suzanne Bryant emerged from the barn with Dolly stating while she is an old horse exceeding the average 30-year-old mark, she weighs just 500 pounds. Bryant said typically horses of Dolly's size range from a weight of 1,000 to 1,200 lbs.

She said since the recession took severe effect in 2009, she has seen more and more horses left to starve as people feel they can no longer afford to take care of them.

Willey said he believes the animals were harmed unintentionally and their conditions are due to extreme neglect, noting perhaps the owners did not have proper resources available.

"It's a possibility that the people who had the horses didn't have the resources or the capabilities to care for them as they should have," he said.

Willey noted police became aware of the matter last Wednesday, Aug. 29, when a previous owner of one of the starving horses contacted the authorities with concerns, and sent photos of her ailing horse to a local veterinarian.

Willey said the witness was no longer responsible for the care of the horse and only noticed its condition when she stopped by the Chestnut Hill property to visit.

The NHSPCA said they were contacted by Farmington police for assistance last Friday and a search warrant was executed on Sunday, Sept. 2, following a preliminary investigation by newly appointed Kate Koval, the part-time animal control officer for the department.

Willey described the situation as "tragic," noting the forthcoming veterinarian reports will help officials determine the charges and counts to pursue in their investigation.

"I think it's a case that certainly, just by looking at the animals, it immediately creates an emotional reaction and that's one of the things that makes it really tragic," he said. "(Animals) don't have the ability to care for themselves. They rely on their owners and custodians for that and in this case, it was a failure on the part of these people to do what they needed to do to properly care for them."

He added he could not comment on the operations being run out of the Chestnut Hill Road property, when asked if the area served as a place for numerous owners to keep their horses.

Dennison said in the event of a guilty finding against these owners, the horses may be adopted out, though extensive cases can take at least a year before a determination is made. She said oftentimes, courts rule animals be returned to their original owners but in the case of a guilty finding, owners are responsible to pay restitution to assisting shelters like NHSPCA. Dennison pointed out her group is still waiting on thousands of dollars to come from neglectful owners.

She added she only has the highest hopes for the future of the animals now in her care.

"We've had horrible cases over the years, but these horses, they're extremely underweight. It's so sad to see them in this condition. It really is," she said. "We're trying to stabilize them and get them on the road to recovery, but that transition can be very critical, too."

Individuals wanting to contribute to the care of these animals and others at the NHSPCA shelter may donate to the SOS Fund via NHSPCA.org. They can also send checks to P.O. Box 196, Stratham, N.H., 03885 or contact the NHSPCA Director of Development and Marketing Sheila Ryan at 603-772-2921, ext. 106.

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